As of Nov. 1, DISC Graphics, a packaging company for beauty and health care products, will mark every carton with Applied DNA’s SigNature DNA technology. Applying botanical DNA markers to the containers will provide a level of security for customers, who will be able to submit a suspicious package to Applied DNA’s lab for authentication. All DISC customers will automatically be offered the SigNature DNA authenticity.

While there is no set-up fee required of customers, Applied DNA charges a one-time fee to analyze suspected counterfeits sent to its labs to be authenticated. Applied DNA bases its margins on these authentication measures, so the company makes attempts to disseminate DNA-marked products as much as possible.

Applied DNA officials said the partnership with DISC Graphics could be a major breakthrough against the counterfeiting of pharmaceuticals, with packaging serving as the key form of protection.

DISC produces several hundred million cartons and labels each year for a diverse range of markets. The company produces pressure sensitive labels for over-the-counter pharmaceutical, vitamin and health care markets, including retailers selling pharmaceuticals – CVS and Walgreens – as well as prescription and specialized pharmaceutical industries, cosmetics, perfumes, DVDs and others.